Rooibos: headaches

Yes Rooibos can cause headaches when you start drinking it . Rooibos contain anti-oxidants that will flush out free radicals in your body that can cause severe headaches . I suggest looking at your diet and limiting foods that contain oxidants

This thread has an unusually large number of first posts and resurrections.

A Google search suggests that this sort of reaction to rooibos may be a mild allergic reaction. I can't find any definitive information other than rooibos is a leguminous plant, like peanuts or a few other common allergens.

Do you drink coffee in the day at all or regular tea? Both have plenty of tannin and caffeine. It may in that case be that you are "withdrawing" from the ill effects of drinking caffeinated or higher tannin drinks in the day time. I know several people who quit coffee and black tea for this reason and swapped to rooibos, it took them a couple of weeks to go through the headache stage. Now they are much, much better for it.

I have never gotten a headache from Rooibos. I just drink it right before bed and it puts me to sleep. I don't know if it is just a mental thing now or if it really works but thats how it works for me.

I rarely get headaches, but I have one right now after drinking some rooibos. I received a free tin from Adagio. I don't buy flavored teas, but it has some flavors added to it, so I'm wondering if that's what's causing the headache. I recall having a headache before when drinking it, not every time of course. I really don't get headaches when I don't drink tea for a few days, so I don't think it's caffeine withdrawal symptoms, and I usually only use 4.5g of tea per day anyway which isn't much caffeine. It really makes me sleepy.

I'm feeling rather itchy, mostly on my head but a bit around the body. That occurred several hours after drinking it. I would guess five or six hours. I've had that same kind of itchiness once before and right before bedtime, but I can't remember if I had that same tea that day, but it would fit the timing of me drinking it later in the afternoon. I don't drink tea in the afternoon, because it has caffeine. I've had rooibos before, red and green with no symptoms, so I'm thinking it's this particular batch.

Got some organic rooibos here in Austria yesterday; interesting stuff, no headache to speak of, and I actually 'gongfu' brewed it. It's not too expensive here either, so I think I'll pick up at least 250g to take home.

Rooibos absolutely puts me to sleep, especially brewed strong. Drinking some of the organic stuff I picked up in Austria now--tastes like honey! Definitely no headaches to speak of, and I'm expecting a great night's sleep!

I'm really fond of rooibos now and it is extremely calming and relaxing. I sleep like a rock if I drink it before bedtime! I think I'll buy another kg in Austria (should be back out there in a week or two)!